Accounting and filing system



Aug. 3, 1943. P. E. M. THOMSON 2,325,641

ACCOUNTING AND FILING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15 1942 INVENTOR.

x94 T/P/CA 4! 7/70/4150 BY ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1943.

. P. E. M. THOMSON ACCOUNTING AND FILING SYSTEM Filed May 15, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 1 oil!!! llllllllll A;

INVENTOR. e rfi/cvr 47 75 0/1160 BY I A ITORNE Y5 The portable tray of this invention comprises a rectangular base member having a bottom [2 and integral side walls i4 and the end mem bers i6.

Pivotally mounted upon the side wallsld are movable side members '28. These side members i are pivotally mounted as by inwardly disposed elongated butt hinges 22, two on each ,side, spaced from one another at an intermediate portion of the tray to provide space fcrlatching devices.

One wing of the hinges v2?; is secured" to the respective sidewalls l4 and the other wing is seecured to the movable sides'ili retaining the ad jacent edges slightly spaced to permit movement of the sides outwardly past the vertical;

The. side members are'providedwith inwardly directed fiangesor'wings 24 at their. front and rear edges which are formedwith arcuate slQts 28, respectively, and the enolmembers 16 .are f each provided withz'p'ins 28, passing through the respective slots'Zfi so that the sides may .be moved "from thei full linepositiorr in Figure '4 to the dotted line position shown," which istlie position when the portable trays are carried in the hand.

Handles3fl, are provided on'the uppermost portionof the movable sidewalls-'26 so that 'both wall portions may be carried by one hand and thisservesas a convenient way-of carrying the' xportable tray fromone place'to another. I 'Transversely, preferably, of'the longer dimen 'sion of theportabletray;thebase-memberis provided with positioning members inthe form,

of rods or bars -32:eng'ageable by the slots or cut-out portionsin' the bottomof the cards, as -vvill:b imderstoodf.. r

To prevent a tray' .deslzso that theindexcards can be conveniently examined, the stabilizing'ba'se illustrated in Figure .3 is provided. "This base member'is shown ascoinprised ofa flatplate-like member fldgrelaificientdistance on opposite sidesthereof toistabilize the tray, as illustrated in Figure};

An elongated sheet metal strip of'thesame width as the supporting member is securedto the .top thereof and (is formed with upturned :ends

;38. forming positioning sides or flanges facing one another andspaceda distance. sufficient-etc re- ;ceiv the base} of. the portableitray,1that1.is; the

distance, betweenjthe, side flanges 33 is slightly "-greater'than thetlansverse outside dimensionof 1 the base ofithe portable tray; 1 In Figureslto' 5,

these flanges 38 are shown as formed with slots 4i! of,a-lengthsomewhat 'less than the-width of the strip of .metal and, on opposite ends of the 'slots,zare formed withshort slots lfiwithin which I from tipping ..over; when removed from a cabinetland'stan'ding;say, on a l tively thin butrigid and of'a'length greater: than I the width of :the'portablel tray. toextenda-psufe of the base thereto. 7 Also, it will be noted the slots are formed in the area where hinge members' are omitted, as shown in Figure 1, so as not to interfere with the entrance of the springs in the slots. 7 I

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figure 6. Here again the tray sides i l and the flanges 38- are'formedwith registering slots 50 and' ML; respectively. I 'he latching devices are manually actuated, however, and comprise slides -52 formed with spaced slots 56 registering with holes or-slots 56 in the fiangesiii and held on the-flanges by pins 64, as before. The slides carry thumb pieces 58, respectively, and latches 168,15! formedwith bevelled ends 62 and each extending through theregistering slots 58 and 48. The shank M of a latch is freely movable in a slot 63 in the slide 52 and a leaf spring 64 tion inwardly of the wall I4; thebevelledend 62 facilitating this movement,- as will be understood; I s Q 'The'purpose and operation of the several features of the invention have been described in conjunction with the description of the several parts and-no further "description of the operation 7 or the device is deemed necessary. Suflice it to say? that portable traysfor card indexes have been provided which. are readily V stored in restricted space in. a'cabinet'and yet are provided withstabilizing.devices which prevent their being tipped overwhen'removedfrom a. cabinet and .placed on.a'=tab-le or the like for examinationof the cards. 1

-It will thus be hasdbeen provided for; a portable trayiwhich 'extends;-b eycnd the sides thereof a sufficient distance to prevent the tray from tipping over. By s 'm'eans'oflatching devicesthe',.tray is securely held to this stabilizing member and yet is capable ofzbeing readily released toqbel returnedto a "cabinet 1 i Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, configura-" @tion and ,disposition of the component elements vgoing-to'malgellpy;the invention as a whole,,as

; Ewellesin the selection of specific features for ,partieular purposes and no limitation is intended by the, phraseology of the foregoing description or; illustrations in the accompanying; drawings .exceptfas indicated by the appended claims.

IIlOVQ'fIJlIlS i4 carrying the ends' of a leaf spring. 1

lfibe t as at, 8 o. xt u h thema'io ,slot stand engage in a corresponding .slottil'in,

the side walls Mof the base of the portable'tray.

:fI'herefore, while the normalposition of the spring 7 .isgasillustrated in-Figure 3-with its bent portiOI Y 6 ext ndiineih h zmai 0 the ends are fastenedto pins .44 within the slots 42; thereby enabling, the; pins 1 G4 to separate when the a spring is under. compression in'positioning' a portv able tray base therein," Conveniently-the slots 58.! in thetra'y base member, and theregistering slots lilin the stabilizing'member 34-43,:are

disposed at a-po'int in the sidewalls l iabove the positioning bars "32 and their retaining longi- .tudinalstrips 33 sothatthe positioning bars, will not interfere wlth the application. orremoval What isv claimed is p 1, In card 'indexin 7 ing member comprising a transversely disposed 7 Lplate-like'member of a length; greater than the tra'nsversej dimension; of the tray base, a plate- Qlikemornbersecured to the upper surface thereof and formed with upturned. ends disposed inwardlygof the ends of; the first mentionedplate- 7 like member to provide sides spaced to receive ;the base of the tray therebetween, saiclupturned ends being formed with elongated transversely extending slots and a slot spaced from each end thereof, pins movable in the last mentioned slots, aleaf, springthe ends of which are secured to :theypins, respectively, said leaf spring beinginwardlv bent intermediate its endsto extend .seenthat a. stabilizing member devices, the combination with a. portable; tray whereof the' base is elon- ;gated'and provided withside walls, of astabiliz with isprovide'dwithside :wa;llsg-of astabilizing member emerging-vs member 161- a length greater than the transverse dimension'of the tray base,

and provided withfianges between which the a tray base is received, said flanges beingformed with elongated slots, the sides of the tray base j being formedi with registering slots, and leaf springsfca'rried withone of said members and 3 *adaptedto engage bothsaid slots toremovablyf secure the stabilizing device onthebase of the 1 r-tray. r

"' w c" t y these bein sto me wi h tbwardzoneahemr armaments. afligies "slots to receivethe bentnortions tilt* esbec-v i "tive springs to removably secure the stabilizing 1 device on. the base-of the trayfi 2 111 card indexing devices; the combination :with ga portable i'traywhereof the base :is elon I gated and provided with side w ls; 0. 1 1 mm? 7 iing mcmber comprising a transversely Y @10" plate like m mber or 81 2 38! cr aky-th ein:

transverse dimensionfof V the tray base and have- :inz upward v ex din flan es-winced i n n s tqqzn o de 1 i $3bmil h m th tray "ba ei' s' rc eiv dws idz flan es "bei armed with y eImm tedsiotSL-ben iIea sn ne ar flichme d piatelike, member of a length i vgreater than the transverse dimensionbr thetraypbase u wardly exiendingfflanges-lcarriedbnthe npperisurfoce" ."ottherplate-like memb pro vide% sides-Sher 1 tween i;which;:-lhe received} said e I --flangesabemg, respectivelyiiormed with elongated and. a; slot: spaced 1mm? each'i'end thereof,"

r pins movable in. "131183138121; mentioned 1 slots; leaf v rspringslwthe L-resbective ends of 'whichware fsecured to: pins :andinwardly ben m m diate their f Lhroughftheslots, the-sides 01513118 tray; base" fbeingv'iorinedwithregi'stering,slots'to receive-the tortions of" I, the tsrespectiv'ei springs; to (1'83 mbvablysecure thestabili zingdevicelon thebase' 1 transverse dimensionoiv thee tray" base, :.iflanges rfieisterfmg slot to receive theybentiportion biya' 5 V :'spring to removably secure the stabilizing "device to the'b'ase'ot the tr y." I r card indexing devices In card saidend walls being formed with latching means and the side walls of the tray basebeingformed with coacting latching meansto removably secure J the stabililizing device tothe base of the trayr a 6. In card inde xing devices, the; combination f with a portable tray whereof thecbase iselongated and providedwith sidewalls, of 1a stabilizing member comprising a transversely disposed w plate-like memberof a'length greatertha t 1' transverse dimension of w the tray; base a plate-1 like memberse'cured toi'the 'npper surfaca-up- 3 i: emu-1 devices; itheucombinatlon v with a portable ti'ay :whereoff"thebase is elo'n l' gated and provided a with side walllsjof zaistabiliz i sing member" comprising a I transversely disposed j plate-like: memberfofv-a lengthxgreatez thanflathe" 1: incurred to the platee'likeimemherto=.provide sides "between @which the? tray'abase iss received, said 7 fl ang'eswbeing. formed. 'with'elongatedslots, :lcaf

isprlngsii at. ieast 'one endw of whichsis movably";

inwardl bent portion entering the" slot-Eat least i a eLcombinatwn aflp'ortable tray whereotjithesbase member fpcrtabletmy whereor the base is alone ine mem er comp isin 1 aAztt n verse mwe flanges whereo the 1. bent t e aces ar d oses! iformed'with regrstering siots tol receive th base, is e w M were s ce -1m n ramed-5 with zregisiteting sl ts ;latehing limea s lmovablycisecure t ipi the tray. -1-

wease -dimension members obeing formed with slots and th'ew other H ablysecure the 'of the tray. 7

stabilizing f member comprising a; transversely disposed member ofa length greater than the which the tray "base member is receivedyone "of 5 with a portabletray whereof the base is elongated secured to the upper surface: thereof and formed 7 with 'upturned ends to provide flanges between base being formed with slots movable latching I meansgcarried-with the. flanges and adapted to enter iti eislqzitsandv each latching means adapted V 3' :mrdlrafiendinz fl nges ontherm m er er 1 ,vide sides be ween which .thewtm i ba es-1,

, iceived g said chances :beins; form d :w isle l tchin m ans-m r ied, by the: flans i d inq wablein the-elotsao .removabb; secure the stabiliz;

ncard :indexi; e devi es.;:t e; antenn sat d a d-iprov dedrw s 4115 r. a s a il n ,e ombiaatiea :to prlovide sides; between which- ;the -tray base jis v s da ns d fla esbe nsrformedwwith e n-l a e; sides--=% ::h .xfim vb as siidablc invthegslotsvofii'the'mns fi wand adapted, l respectivelyto enterthewslo sofatl esbe e-toq ew r i herstahi z ns-dev qe en the base: n i

;9.Im:cam maging devised-ma. s allness, V l with a. portable traygwhereoi jthe'ibaSe member stabilizingimembercomprisingatransversel- 3 iposed membervoiia lefigtdigreater$ 1 1 1.-

stheitrawb emberh ingo f sfiange amemberseto mrovid rsidessbetween hich 45*the tray base member is received, one of said member being provided with movable latching mea'nsto engage a side ofthe slotsto remov stabilizing device on the base 10, In card indexing devices,'the combination with a portable tray whereof the base member" a s r 1 I iselongated and provided with side walls, of a indexing devices, thecornbination' with a portable tray,whereotthe base is elongated and provided with sidewalls, of a stabilizing member comprising a transverselydispos'ed platejlike member of a length greater than thetransverse idimension of the tray base, a plate-like 'member rigidly secured to the upper surface thereof and formed with upturned'endiwalls disposed inwardly. of theends of the "first member to provide vertical sides betweenwhich the side walls of the tray baseare received andretained;

f transverse dimension of the-traylbaseimember 1 having flange-members to provide sides-between said; members being formed with slots andthe a othermember being provided with movablelatcht "'11. 1x1 card ,indexin g'devices, the combination and pro'vided with sidewalls, of a stabilizing member comprising a transversely: disposed plate-like 7 member of a length greater than the transverse j dimension of the tray base, a plates-like member which the tray-base is received, the sides of said to engag'eta wall of aslot to removably secure the stabilizing device onthe base of the tray. c

' 12. In card indexing devicesg'the combination with a portable tray whereof the baseiselongated, of a stabilizing member comprising a transversely disposed plate-like member of 'a length greater than the transverse dimension of the traybase, said base being formed witha't least one'slot and latchingmeans carried by the sta- ,bilizing member-and entering'a slot to removably secure the stabilizing device on the base ofthe tray. i 13. In cardindexing devices, the Combination with a portable tray whereof the base-is elongated, of a stabilizing member comprisinga transversely disposed plateelike" member of a length greater than the transverse dimension of the tray base and having fianges-to'provide sides between which the tray base'is received; said flanges being formed withslots, the-sides of the tray base being formed with"registering slots; and a latch movable on a v flange and passing through a slot and enga ing the slot in the tray baseto removably' secure the stabilizingdeviceonthe base of the tray. V

} 1i. In card indexing devices, the combination s v =with'a portable tray whereof the base is elongated '7 and, provided with side walls, of a stabilizing engage a side of the-slotto removably secure the stabilizing device on the base "of the tray, and spring mea'n's to oppose movement'of the latching means.

V 1 Incard indexing devices, the combination] with'a portable tray whereof the base is elongatedQ of a stabilizing member comprising a istering slots, afthumb piece; a latch carried thereby, andaleaf spring betweenthe thumb i piece and the slide, eachit side .of the tray base gated slot,Tsaid--latch beingreceived in the reg- 'isterin'g elongated slots :to-removablyi secure the member having flange members between'which 1 1 latching meanscarriedby the flange member to be caused to enter the slotin the side walland I Y 'to engage a side'of the-slot to re ncvably secure the stabilizing deviceon the'b'ase of the tray.

' the traybase is received; cheer the side walls 'being formed with a slot and the: flange member a being provided with a registeringslot, movable transversely disposed plate-like member" of a length greater than-the'tran'sverse dimension of the tray base,'flanges'0n the plate-like member providing" sides between which the tray base is received, said flanges being-respectively formed Withan elongated slot and a 'slot spaced from each end of the elongated slot, slideon each flange formed withsp'a'c'ed elongated slots to register with the last named slots, pins in theregbeing formediwith 'an elongatedv slotwhich registers with a corresponding first mentioned elonstabilizing device on the base of the'ltrayr j 17. In card 'indexing'devices} thecombination with a"portableEtrayx whereof'the' base is elongated, ofastabilizing'member comprising a trans-.

versely disposed plate-like member of a length greaterthan the transverse dimension. of the tray I base, flanges on thepIate-Iikemember providing r side'sibetween which the tray basefi's received, at

, least oneiof said flangesbeing,formed'withan 15."In card-indexing devices; the; combination 7 'beingprovidedwvith ai -registering slot, movable 1 "latching means carried by the flange member to l be caused to enterithe slot in the side wall and to elongated slot and a slotrspaced from each end' i of the elongated slot, aislide on said flange formed with spaced elongated slots, to register with the last namedslotepins in the registering slots, a

thumb piece; a latch carried'therebmand' a'leaf spring between the thumb piece and the slide, one

side of thetrayibeing formed with an elongated jslot which'registers with the. first namedielon gated slot, said latch being received in the-reg ist'ering' elon'gatedlslotsrto removably secure the stabilizing device on the base of the tray PATRICK E. M. THOMSON. 

